French troops in Bamako

French soldiers sit in a Malian military vehicle at the 101 military air base near Bamako,the capital. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers targeting Islamist militants controlling northern Mali.

French soldiers sit in a Malian military vehicle at the 101 military air base near Bamako,the capital. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers targeting Islamist militants controlling northern Mali. (Eric Feferberg / AFP/Getty Images)

French soldiers sit in a Malian military vehicle at the 101 military air base near Bamako,the capital. France is using air and ground power in a joint offensive with Malian soldiers targeting Islamist militants controlling northern Mali.Eric Feferberg / AFP/Getty Images